(Sports Network) - Right-hander Jason Marquis gets another crack at the Houston Astros when the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs continue a three-game weekend series with their divisional rivals today at Wrigley Field.

Marquis is 10-8 with a 4.26 ERA in 27 starts this season. He was 2-0 over a three-start stretch before his last outing Sunday at Arizona, where he suffered the loss after giving up five runs and six hits through 5 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks.

The righty, who is 7-3 in 14 home starts in 2007, is 7-5 with a 5.27 earned run average over 21 career games (16 starts) against the Astros. Marquis last faced Houston on July 15 of this season and posted a no decision. He allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings of a 7-6 triumph at Wrigley Field.

Chicago is 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee in the Central and lost Friday's series opener to Houston by a 6-1 score. Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Cubs, but starter Sean Marshall lasted just 3 2/3 innings and yielded five hits and four runs for the loss.

Rookie Troy Patton will make his second career start for Houston on Friday. Patton debuted for the Astros last Saturday against Pittsburgh and suffered the loss after allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 defeat in Houston. The left-hander pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings against the Pirates before falling apart.

Patton was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock prior to the game to replace injured starter Jason Jennings, who is out for the season with an arm injury.

In Friday's victory, Hunter Pence hit two home runs and had five RBI for the Astros and Wandy Rodriguez tossed six shutout innings.

Pence finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Rodriguez gave up just four hits with five strikeouts and three walks to lead Houston to its third straight win and fourth triumph in five games. The left-hander won for the first time in seven starts.

Houston holds a slim 6-4 edge in the season series with Chicago and is riding a four-game winning streak versus the Cubs.